Sacramento – Today, Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-San Bernardino) and Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) announced that they will introduce legislation when the Legislature reconvenes in January to give victims of sexual harassment more time to file claims beyond the one year required under existing law.
“The stories of sexual harassment told by victims from all careers and walks of life have revealed that the existing systems for seeking justice are not working,” said Assemblymember Reyes. “The evidence clearly indicates that the fear of retaliation and the psychological wounds caused by such actions can prevent victims from filing claims within the existing timelines required under current law.”
“For decades, the deck has been stacked against victims of sexual harassment,” said Assemblymember Laura Friedman, Chair of the Assembly Rules Subcommittee on Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation Prevention and Response. “With this bill, we can inject some much needed balance into the civil system while protecting due process so that every Californian has equal access to justice.”
Under existing law (Government Code § 12960) a victim of sexual harassment must file a claim with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing within one year from the date of the last incident of sexual harassment.
Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes is the newly-elected member of the State Legislature, representing Assembly District 47 which includes the cities of Fontana, Rialto, Colton, Grand Terrace, San Bernardino and the unincorporated areas of Muscoy and Bloomington.
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Contact: Galen Dobbins, galen.dobbins@asm.ca.gov, (916) 319-2047